PHOTOS

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology football team dropped their HCAC title game on Saturday afternoon with a 38-21 loss to Mount St. Joseph.

Daniel Huery was the standout for Rose-Hulman finishing the final game of his career with 147 receiving yards and one touchdown. Jay Smith was the team's leading rusher with 94 yards and one rushing touchdown. Rick Easterwood ended the game throwing for 278 yards and two touchdown passes.

The Rose-Hulman defense had five players reach double figures in tackles with Austin Hastings leading the team with 15 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. 

After the Lions scored the opening touchdown on a trick play fake punt, Rose-Hulman marched right back down the field and leveled the game at seven on a trick play of their own as Smith took the snap, flipped it back to Easterwood who threw it to Chase Wilkinson for the 18-yard score.

After that score, it was all Mount St. Joseph in the remainder of the first half as they would take a 28-7 lead into the locker room.

Rose-Hulman opened the third quarter with a five-play drive for 75 yards ending on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Easterwood to Huery to cut the MSJ lead to 28-14. 

The Lions would answer with a long drive ending in a four-yard rushing touchdown to build a 35-21 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

Rose-Hulman would threaten the Lions lead with a 10-play drive for 72 yards capped off with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Smith to make the score 35-21.

MSJ would hold off the Fightin' Engineers to claim the win and their third consecutive HCAC title.

With the loss, Rose-Hulman falls to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the HCAC. The team will open their 2025 season against DePauw on Saturday, September 6 for their home opener under the lights at 7 PM.